Speculation as to why Joel Embiid was wearing sunglasses indoors and struggling to close his left eye during Game 3 against the Knicks was rampant.
But, longtime NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski shed some light on the mystery after the Sixers 125-114 win over the Knicks, by revealing that Embiid has been suffering with a condition called Bell’s palsy.
The condition causes sudden weakening of the facial muscles on one side of the face and can cause people to have trouble closing their eye – which is what was happening to Embiid on the court in Game 3.
Despite his health issues, the big man stunned the Knicks by putting up 50 points and getting the Sixers an important first win in the first-round series.
The Philly star spoke about the condition after the game while wearing sunglasses.
“I think it started a day or two before the Miami game,” Embiid said, while adding that he’d suffered migraines as well as the muscle weaknesses.
“It’s pretty annoying,” Embiid said. “My left side of my face, my mouth and my eye, so yeah, it’s been tough,” Embiid said, “but I’m not a quitter, so I got to keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. That’s not an excuse, I got to keep pushing.”
Symptoms usually start to improve within weeks, and most people with Bell’s palsy recover fully within six months.
“With the conversations that I’ve had, it could be weeks, it could be months,” Embiid explained.
But he doesn’t want any sympathy.
“The one thing I’m not gonna do is give up,” Embiid said. “No matter what happens. Gotta keep pushing, gotta keep fighting. Gotta keep putting my body on the line for my family, for this city, for this team – I can’t just sit back and feel bad about myself.”
Since 2018 with the Sixers, Embiid hasn’t been able to make it past the Conference Semifinals.